Good afternoon from PNC Park where today the Pirates (45-41) take on the Phillies (37-49) in the second game of a three-game set. Edinson Volquez (6-6, 4.07 ERA) will face David Buchanan (4-4, 4.86 ERA). Hurdle's Quotes On Mercer's recent success and what it does to Harrison at SS: "I'm trying to find that seamless transition for a lot of different guys. To give them a little bit. Move the chains a little bit and hold that ground. Like a tug of war, hold that ground, now can we get a little ... Read More
Mercer’s 4-RBI Evening Lifts Pirates Past Phillies 8-2
Jordy Mercer recorded 4 RBI and Gerrit Cole pitched like the man he was prior to his injury before re-injuring himself as the Pirates took the first game of a three-game set from the Phillies 8-2 on a perfect 4th of July afternoon in Pittsburgh. The Pirates provided some early fireworks for the sellout crowd at PNC with a four-spot in the first. Russell Martin, Josh Harrison and Jordy Mercer (2 RBI) all provided RBI in the inning while the offense collected five hits and walked twice in the ... Read More
Pirates Gameday 7/3: Hurdle Discusses Recent Pitching Success, Jordy Mercer
Good afternoon from PNC Park where the Pirates (44-40) look for the three-game sweep --their first of the 2014 season-- of the Diamondbacks (35-51). Vance Worley (2-0, 1.74 ERA) will oppose Brandon McCarthy (2-10, 5.11 ERA). Injury Update Francisco Liriano threw a successful sim game yesterday and will now make a rehab start with AAA Indianapolis on Monday (5 IP / 85 pitches). Andrew McCutchen is in tonight's lineup after leaving last night's game after fouling a ball off of his left ... Read More
Pirates Gameday 6/7: Locke Scratched from AAA Start
Good afternoon from PNC Park where the Pirates (29-31) look to continue their climb up the NL Central standings against the Brewers (36-26). Edinson Volquez (3-4, 4.25ERA) will oppose Matt Garza (3-4, 4.42 ERA). -- Jeff Locke was scratched from his start in AAA Indianapolis last night. Manager Clint Hurdle says the team is "working through" their short term rotation plans. Tomorrow is supposed to be Charlie Morton's spot in the rotation and Gerrit Cole is supposed to go on Monday, ... Read More
Pirates Blow by Brewers 15-5
Pittsburgh -- The Pirates used an eight-run sixth inning to pull away from the Brewers 15-5 on Friday night at PNC. The Pirates (29-31) got two runs on the board right off the bat with RBI by Andrew McCutchen and Russell Martin. McCutchen would add a solo-home run in the third to push the lead to 3-0. The Brewers (36-26) bounced back off of Pirates starter Brandon Cumpton in the fourth. Jonathan Lucroy singled with one out and Carlos Gomez followed with a double setting up second and ... Read More
Mercer Leads Bucs to 10-3 Win Over Padres
Jordy Mercer's 4-for-5 night paced a high-powered Pirate offense as the black and gold posted 16 hits in a 10-3 drubbing of the San Diego Padres on Monday night. Mercer -- 4-for-5 with a HR, 3 1B, BB, 2 RBI and 4 runs -- started the scoring in the third inning off of Padres starter Tim Stauffer with an upper-deck solo home run to left. The Pirates then loaded the bases allowing Ike Davis to hit a sac fly to make it 2-0. Stauffer followed that by walking Russell Martin chasing him from the game ... Read More
Jordy Mercer experiment needs to end
There have been many problems surrounding the start of the 2014 season for the Pittsburgh Pirates, which span everything from pitching to hitting to defense. Manager Clint Hurdle is in a position where he must make changes before it is too late. One of those changes should involve shortstop Jordy Mercer. Mercer became a fan favorite last season and for good reasons. He was producing with the bat and it got Clint Barmes out of the lineup on an everyday basis, which pleased most Pirates ... Read More
Errors Cost Pirates Series Sweep
The Pirates loaded the bases with no out and the tying run on third in the ninth, but weren't able to convert as they fell to the Cardinals 6-5 on Sunday Night Baseball in front of 32,605 at PNC Park and a national TV audience looking on. A costly error in the first proved to be the deal breaker as the Pirates (16-21) were unable to dig themselves out of an early hole. They did try however, as they got to within one in the ninth off of Cardinals (19-19) closer Trevor Rosenthal after Neil ... Read More
Pirates Play Comeback Again in 8-6 Victory
The Pirates pushed across six runs against the Blue Jays bullpen in the seventh and eighth innings en route to an 8-6 win over Toronto on Saturday night. Clint Barmes started the seventh off with a double forcing Jays pitcher R.A. Dickey from the game. The knuckleballer had limited the Pirate bats to only three hits to that point. The Bucco bats then got to work against the Jays bullpen collecting four hits (two doubles) and one walk culminating in Jordy Mercer's pinch-hit 2 RBI double to tie ... Read More
Pirates Gameday 4/19: Lineups, Hurdle Talks Davis, Stewart, Mercer Injury
Good afternoon from PNC Park where the Pirates (8-9) look to get back to .500 tonight against the first place Brewers (12-5). Wandy Rodriguez (0-2, 7.31 ERA) looks for win #1 tonight as he faces Matt Garza (0-2, 3.43 ERA). Injury Update Jordy Mercer left yesterdays game after sustaining an ankle injury in the third inning. Manager Clint Hurdle said he would be limited at the most today. "Jordy showed up today feeling a little bit better," said Hurdle. "He was going to go through a treatment ... Read More